CROCS EXP BRINGS BACK THE TEMBO II WITH VIBRAM GRIP AND POLARTEC PROTECTION ⋆ METROPOLITANT

The winterised archival silhouette returns with a one-piece Croslite upper, a protective fleece bootie and a sharper design language as Crocs expands its premium EXP platform.

Crocs is continuing to push beyond the familiar clog with the return of the Tembo II, a winterised archival silhouette that sits within the brand’s premium Crocs EXP platform.

The Tembo II combines several materials and construction methods that move the shoe firmly into more technical territory. A one-piece Croslite upper retains the perforated look associated with Crocs, while a wraparound construction holds an inner bootie made from Polartec protective synthetic fleece. A nylon strap secures the midfoot, and the shoe is finished with a Vibram outsole designed to provide more traction underfoot.

The result is a silhouette that keeps recognisable Crocs DNA while introducing a more rugged and structured profile.

The Tembo II also reflects the wider role of Crocs EXP, which was introduced in 2025 as a premium, design-led platform developed by the brand’s in-house team. Rather than treating EXP as a seasonal capsule, Crocs positions it as a longer-term space for experimenting with materials, construction and archival reinterpretation.

That approach is already visible across the range. The Tembo II joins the Trailbreak 2 as part of an ongoing archival programme focused on updating older silhouettes without removing the details that make them recognisably Crocs.

The partnership with Vibram is another important part of that direction. Crocs has increasingly incorporated material specialists into the EXP line, and the use of Vibram rubber here builds on an existing relationship already seen in the Classic EXP Clog.

Visually, the Tembo II takes a more assertive approach than the brand’s everyday footwear. The proportions are sharper, the materials are more technical and the colour palette leans into off-road references. The shoe debuts in Elephant Carbon and Orange Zing, giving the launch a more utilitarian and outdoor-facing identity.

The addition of Polartec fleece also makes the Tembo II one of the more overtly seasonal silhouettes within the current Crocs range. Its construction is clearly designed with colder conditions in mind, positioning the shoe as a functional option for travel and winter environments while still retaining the easy, recognisable form language of the brand.

Crocs EXP has been built around the idea of evolving the brand’s established design vocabulary through better materials and more considered construction. The Tembo II fits neatly into that strategy, using an archival silhouette as the starting point and adding enough technical detail to make the update feel purposeful rather than cosmetic.

For a brand that has spent years expanding the cultural meaning of the clog, the Tembo II suggests that the next phase of Crocs may be less about novelty and more about credibility in design and function.